Lake County supervisor responds to recall effort

KELSEYVILLE -- Longtime District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown Tuesday filed a formal answer to the recall effort launched against him last week.

"Please do not sign this dishonest and costly recall petition," the supervisor wrote in his response. "Say no to the dishonest recall campaign against Rob Brown."

The Citizens for the Recall of Supervisor Rob Brown submitted a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition to oust the outspoken fourth-term supervisor on June 4.

The proponents argue Brown should be removed from office because they feel dissatisfied with his service, object to his conduct, lack confidence in his representation and argue he has a conflict of interest because he also operates a bail bonds business.

The man who has represented Kelseyville and the rest of District 5 on the Lake County Board of Supervisors since 2001 officially answered his critics Tuesday afternoon, submitting a written reply to the Lake County Registrar of Voters' Office.

Brown's response quotes two district residents, one former Lake County Sheriff's deputy and a current Kelseyville school board member explaining why they support him.

The answer also references a 2012 Record-Bee editorial endorsement of Brown and a California Fair Political Practices Commission finding that no conflict of interest exists with the supervisor also working as a bail bondsman.

Brown's reply would be included as part of a recall petition, which must first be approved by county election officials.

The recall proponents have until June 21 to file two blank copies of their proposed petition, along with proof that the notice of intent was published in the newspaper, to the Registrar of Voters' Office for review.

A successful recall petition would require signatures from 1,833 registered District 5 voters.

Lake County already has one recall petition in circulation; proponents of an effort to remove Sheriff Frank Rivero have been gathering signatures for almost two months.